Could your organisation partner with the Department for Education's (DfE) free breakfast club programme to help pupils start the day ready to learn?
 

The free breakfast club programme supports the aim of giving every pupil, regardless of their background, the best start in life. Free breakfast clubs break down barriers to every child achieving and thriving at school and in later life, by ensuring they are ready to learn as well as supporting families with the cost of living, and tackling poverty.

The first 750 'early adopter' free breakfast clubs opened their doors in April 2025, delivering a free 30-minute club alongside a healthy breakfast to their pupils. Following on from the success of this test and learn phase, national rollout began in April 2026 when a further 500 schools opening their free breakfast clubs, with more schools set to join in September. We know the difference a soft start and healthy breakfast can make for pupils with regards to attendance, attainment and behaviour, and we believe greater impact can be achieved by partnering with organisations who can help schools make their breakfast clubs even better.

Last October, in a landmark move, the government joined forces with four food industry partners to provide the 750 early adopter schools with discounts and deals as part of a test and learn phase. These partnerships are helping schools to serve up more affordable, varied breakfast options whilst saving time for busy school staff. To help support schools further, we are seeking partners who can offer resources that make free breakfast clubs even more fun and enriching, helping pupils begin the day ready to learn.

We are interested in resources suitable for all primary-aged pupils from Reception, Key Stage 1 (ages 5-7), and Key Stage 2 (ages 7-11), and welcome partners that could support light-touch, child-led activities for one or more of these age-groups in any of the following categories:

- express creativity
- explore the outdoors
- be active
- connect with the wider community
- develop wider life skills

We are particularly interested in physical resources such as toys, board games, activity kits, books, arts and crafts supplies or sports and outdoor equipment, as well as voucher-based options such as gift cards or redeemable credits that allow schools to choose resources tailored to their pupils' interests and available space. These examples are not intended to be exhaustive, and other suitable proposals are welcome. Resources received will help schools as they set up their free breakfast clubs and welcome pupils at the beginning of the new school year.